tommocoyle

A bold and brave film, that never pulls any punches. A group of teenagers living very negative lives see the suicide, due to bullying of a school friend and the schools closure as an excuse for a day out the streets. Some of the characters are implicit in her fate, but refuse to see their culpability. Utterly selfish and shallow, many may think that these kids deserve nothing from society they abuse at every turn. Its adults who despise and are frightened by them are mere counterpoints throughout the film. An English version of KIDS but without the horrible voyeurism?? Do these kids deserve better from society? Do they a represent a threat to society itself? These kids may be horribly violent, disrespectful, but are incredibly believable. They cannot see outside the confined personal friendships and conflicts, but we are left with a genuine sense of loss and despair at the end of the film. A remarkable and striking British film

This film works as a buddy picture but also gives an insightful look at the crime and boredom driven lifestyle so inherent in British working class housing estates. All the characters exist in a world where crime and excitement feeds a void in their lives where showing love, caring or compassion is almost impossible. The character of Justin in particular is flawed and irresponsible, yet in the end lovable. it's to the film makers credit that he is able to make us care about a character who at one point sticks a gun in a 7 year old's mouth to show how big he is. The film also manages the most impossible of tasks of making the housing estate and a British summer both ' bright ' and illuminating. A major departure from the grey and downtrodden depiction of working class life so predominant in Mike Leigh's film for example. An excellent film